Etsy

Check the reviews, and Google the seller. Also, are the reviews written in good english? Does it seem fake? Check pictures from the buyers.

I would have to say no, with LOTS of exceptions. In the past few years Etsy has allowed business to claim handmade if it meets certain criteria. I often see many items that claim to be handmade but I have seen them on Alibaba being sold in bulk. That being said I look very closely and have purchased some wonderfu items from great sellers. The biggest problem with Etsy is that they no longer protect customers from fraud (they say they are not liable) but in doing that lots and lots or resellers and counterfeit items have saturated Etsy' s marketplace. I would never buy anything "vintage" there. What I have seen you are getting thrift store rejects or modern fake. Buyer beware! Investigate all vendors carefully!

I am agree with Ramina. 90% is not hand made. All comes from Factories. When someone has over 8000's item don't you ask who made it. They are all over from Pakistan to turkey east to west up united state. Etsy is happy just to take your money and every 4 or 5 months closing one store to show off and if you have some money as a credit they take it too. No customer service, no respect no manor, they made policy just for FUN and they have FUN with our pocket. Stay far from them FAR FAR.

I agree with Steve J on this one. A lot of sellers on Etsy work from home in the evenings for extra money. Most of them are not big businesses with massive inventories so I would give them the benefit of the doubt. Give them a little more time and if they dont send it out then file a case with etsy

Business checking isn't necessary (the banks now charge a monthly fee for a small business checking). You can pretty much set up a regular checking account

I believe this depends on each seller. Etsy is simply a platform for sellers, and often does not have any direct involvement with orders short of processing the payment. Certain items cannot be returned for safety and hygiene reasons, and sellers can refuse to do anything other than exchange. Contacting Etsy may or may not change the results.

If you do, I would be cautious about ordering from international sellers, use a credit card in case you need to contest the charges, and do NOT expect ETSY do a thing if you get ripped off. They are useless and could care less once the sale is final.

I have bought a number of items through Etsy and with great success. I had only one negative experience and Etsy took are of that. I recommend Etsy wholeheartedly.

The best and quickest thing to do is to email the seller and let them know that you would like to return for a refund.

Yes, it certainly is. I've also been selling for many years, never had a problem. Using PayPal is great if you ever should have a problem, as you're protected in the event of theft. If you were hacked somehow would be the only way it would be a concern for me, so I am careful about using good passwords and changing them often (Etsy password) I would not worry about the safety of Etsy direct at all.